Disaster Assistance, Recovery Centers Being Set Up on Big Island

Meanwhile, food stamp recipients may request reimbursement for dollar value of food destroyed by storm-related power outages.

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The Abercrombie administration today announced the following regarding help for Tropical Storm Iselle victims on the Big Island:

Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers (DARCs) are being set up on Hawaii island to provide information and services to people whose property was damaged during Tropical Storm #Iselle.

The DARCs will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

  • Thursday, Aug. 14, to Friday, Aug. 15, Pahoa Community Center, 15-2910 Puna Rd.
  • Saturday, Aug. 16, to Sunday, Aug. 17, Mountain View Gym, 18-1345 A Volcano Rd.

State and county agencies along with not-for-profit, non-governmental agencies will be on hand at the DARCs to provide information on available services. Information gathered from visitors to the DARCs will help HI-EMA and Hawaii County evaluate whether the criteria for a federal disaster declaration has been met.

For more information on the DARCs, contact HI-EMA at (808) 733-4300 or askcivildefense@scd.hawaii.gov.

Puna tropical storm Iselle damage tree crushing garage

A tree did significant damage to this structure in the Hawaiian Beaches area of Puna.

Eric Pape/Civil Beat

Meanwhile, the state Department of Human Services has this information regarding food stamp assistance:

Thousands of Hawaii households in East Hawaii remain without electricity in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle. The Department of Human Services reminds households currently receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits that they may request reimbursement for the actual dollar value of food destroyed by storm-related power outages.  The reimbursement cannot exceed the household’s current monthly allotment (HAR 17-681-31).  

To qualify for reimbursement, the affected household must have been participating in the SNAP when the disaster occurred, and report the loss to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) within 10 days of the severe weather event. The deadline to submit reimbursement requests for food spoiled during Tropical Storm Iselle is Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014.  

The DHS has opened four assistance offices for current East Hawaii SNAP households seeking reimbursement.  BESSD representatives will be stationed at the below locations from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays, August 12 through August 22, 2014.  **Note:  These sites will be closed Friday, August 15 for the Admissions Day holiday.

  • Hawaiian Shores Community Center
  • Nanawale Estates Community Association
  • Leilani Estates Community Center Association
  • Hawaiian Paradise Park – Church of the Nazarene

To be considered for the reimbursement, the affected SNAP household must provide the DHS BESSD a signed statement that includes the following information:  

  1. Name of the storm and dates of impact
  2. General list of food items lost due to storm-related power outage
  3. Length of time household power was out
  4. Statement that the household is aware of the penalties for the intentional misrepresentation of the facts; and
  5. Statement that the household is aware that SNAP replacement allotment will not be issued if the required statement is not signed and returned within 10 days.

The DHS knows this is a difficult time for Hawaii Island residents.  Anyone who needs more information is encouraged to call the BESSD office at 981-7288.   To learn more about the Hawaii SNAP, visit the DHS website www.humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/snap.  

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